The Day Before the Climb

Tired, yet inspired.
Awed, anxious, yet anticipating.
Humbled, honored, yet humbled once more.
Terrified, trembling, yet trusting -
In God alone.
Unsure, unworthy, yet unyielding in my asking for . . .
Wisdom, waiting, yet wondering - "How will it all work out?"
Considering, yet confident Christ's call will be completed through
His strength and care.


Nancy Taylor -
These are the thoughts that flooded my mind as I prepared to meet with the Lord the last day before the first day of teaching a new Bible study class.

Life in the 50's

When I entered the 5th decade of my life I became very reflective and a little depressed thinking that my life was going downhill fast. Through the last two years the Lord has shown me that being in my fifties brings with it the most opportunity for His usefulness. You see, I have lived through family dysfunction, youthful rebellion, a college education, my wedding, natural child birth, death of family members, and now giving my children flight. I have gained some wisdom through many failures, struggles, and determined devotion. I have taught elementary, middle school, and college students. I have lived in a small frame house (later condemned), in the country and in a city high rise with valet service. I have gained and lost hundreds of pounds and taught others how not to! I have traveled the world and seen complete poverty in India, orphans in Africa and over-the-top materialism in Dubai.

Recently while prayer walking with my dear friend and fellow boomer,Mary Ann, I experienced a God ah ha moment. It occurred to me that we were each just reaching the prime years where there are no longer children to take care of on a daily basis or employers to impress. Instead now is the time when I can take all of my experiences that God has so graciously given me and allow Him to pour me out by now mentoring and ministering to the next generation. I am now watching eagerly to see what God will do with this woman in her fifties, who has experienced life in the pit and on the mountain and every place in between.

Now if you have looked back, then forward and wondered "now what?" Remember Psalm 27:13&14, "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." Join me in the land of the living, waiting on the Lord to do immeasurably more! Ephesians 3:20

Get a grip!

There are five steps that I use to secure God's Word in my life. When I am consistent in doing these five things God's Word gets a grip on my heart, as I get a grip on His Word!

Memorize - Memorize the Word consistently and manned with a plan! Psalm 119:11; Romans 12:2

Meditate - Chew on the Word and ponder its meaning. Psalm 1:2-3

Mobilize- Prove the Word true in your life by doing what it says! James 1:22

Mark- Keep a journal of how God has marked your life through His Word. Jeremiah 15:16

Momentum- Review often what God has done through persistent review. (Review a verse for 100 days!) Hebrews 2:1;

I will be sharing more about how to live these steps out in the days ahead. Remember that it is all about knowing God, allowing Him to change you through that knowledge and then sharing Him with others.

In His Grip!
Nancy

My Life's in Storage!

I recently came to the realization that all my worldly possessions now dwell in a 10 foot by 30 foot by 10 foot storage unit. We sold our home, put all of our things in storage and are living in a friends condo in the transition. As I sit here I am surrounded by someone else's "stuff" and I often feel misplaced! It is amazing how attached we become to our possessions. The scripture says that our lives are not made up of our possessions, however, in this world we are defined by them. Matthew 6:19 - 21 says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is there will your heart be also." I am learning to hold loosely the things of this world and hold tightly the things of heaven. That is why I am passionately storing up God's Word in my heart and mind. I do not want to be defined by what I own materially, but what I possess spiritually. I am storing up treasures of heaven in my heart. My life is in storage because my life does consists of what I have treasured or stored in my heart. I am praying that it shows outwardly - "for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart." Luke 6:45

Storing up Tresures!
Nancy
provetheword@gmail.com

Forever in My Heart

"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." 1 Peter 1:24-25

I turned 50 this year. That means I have lived a half-century, 5 decades on this earth! I often wake in the night and the question is running through my mind: "How has my life made a difference?" Has my life counted? I find myself on the verge of depression. Then the Lord reminds me that it is not all about me. When I become impressed with my lot in life depression sets in. I have discovered, however, that when I become impressed with who God is, the depression melts away.

I woke up this morning at 3:00 AM and couldn't go back to sleep. I woke to the thought - Nancy, you are just like withering grass and dried flowers. This body I am living in is fading, but God's word that has taken root in my heart will stand forever. In fact Peter says it is "living and enduring." The Word inplanted in my heart will go on forever long after this body of mine is laid in the ground. I hold forever in my heart! This thought fuels my passion for God's word. I could never afford a face lift - which eventually falls! Instead, I am opting for a permanent "heart lift" by seeking to fill it with the living and enduring word of God. Amen!
Feasting on the Word!
Nancy

Walking in Truth

3 John 2-4 has been my prayer for my children for many years. " I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health just as your soul prospers. I was very glad when brethren came and bore witness to your truth. That is, how you were walking in truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth." Last night, as I laid my head on my pillow, I began to reflect on my Mother's Day. I must say it was the very best Mother's Day I think I have ever had! I didn't receive any flowers, which I love and no gift card for the LOFT. No breakfast in bed and no corsage to wear to church. These are all fine and I would love each one, but my children gave me the best gifts ever- their lives!

I began praying scripture for my children some 10 years ago and I will never get over how God answers! I have especially prayed that they would love the Lord with all their heart, soul and might (Deuteronomy 6:5) and that they would fully understand God's love. (Ephesians 3:16-19) Both of my children are in college and both chose to come to church with me and to give me the gift of their words. Their words truly matched up with their actions. My son wrote me a Mother's Day letter and some of the things he wrote stay with me for a long time. He said, "I have seen the effect of memorizing Scripture in your life, and it encourages and blesses me so much . . . I can honestly say that I want to become more like you as I grow older." I share this not to boast in my parenting - far from that- but to boast in God and His Word - truth! The wonderful words of my children motivate me all the more to hide God’s Word in my heart and fuel my passion to teach others how to experience this transforming journey of delighting in God's Word.

Keep Feasting on the Word,
Nancy

Stop believing the Lies!

So many times I have believed my own lies. I have listened to my own "understanding" of a situation, only to realize that I was believing a lie - contrary to God's truth. I had a dear friend email me with a prayer request concerning the pain she was having in her back. She has struggled with back pain for years and is overwhelmed with the pain and the struggle to get her life back to "normal." She said she was depressed. That is believing a lie - believing that your situation is much too big for God. We become depressed when we are overly impressed with our own circumstances. To overcome depression we must become impressed with who God is and that He is able to do immeasurably more that we can even fathom. Ephesians 3:20. Each day I must have an attitude adjustment. I must stop believing my lies and start believing God's truth. That my friends is why God's word, hidden in my heart, is my lifeline to a truth- filled day. Here is to a day filled with God's truth.

Keep Feasting on His Word!
Nancy